Behind The Brush: Meet Monica Welburn Of The Elgin Avenue

From the editors of some of the most read Homes and Interiors magazines to the owners of crafty and creative start-up businesses, we sit down with those in the know to get the scoop on everything from what a normal day is like to their future trend predictions.

In this week’s Behind The Brush interview, we’re getting to know blogger and founder of The Elgin Avenue, Monica Welburn. Grab a cuppa and read on…

1. What is a normal day for you?

Every day is a little different. I aim to stick to a loose routine; I wake up early, stretch, have a herbal tea and settle down at my desk to answer pressing emails and have some head space before everyone else hits the office. I then have breakfast and coffee with my boyfriend Oli. For the rest of the day it is a real mix. Each week I work on content for my blog The Elgin Avenue, and liaise with brands and collaborators on upcoming projects. I might then shoot some images for the blog, take a Skype call or liaise with my wider team. My boyfriend works freelance so we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to escape for a little bit each day together. We go for a walk in our local area or head to a cafe for a bite to eat. I am getting better at ‘calling it a day’ at about 6.30pm and I’ve recently signed up to a great gym, so I’m aiming to fit in a workout a few times a week too.

2. What do you love most about your job?

Corny though it sounds, doing something I love every day. It is such a privilege to work in a capacity, in which you think it can’t possibly be a job! I love everything about being a full-time blogger, the creative side and the business side too.

3. What is the biggest challenge in your job?

That is a good question! There are many challenges, for me, finding a balance between the business side of my work and my inspiration can be a challenge – if you are working really hard on a strategy, or liaising with a client all day, you can find yourself zapped of energy to create a beautiful blog post. You have to find that ‘sweet spot’ between the two. It is a constant learning curve, I have never had a ‘boss’ in this role, and so I seek advice from mentors to help me shape my way.

4. When did you first become interested in interiors?

I really became interested in interiors when my boyfriend Oli and I moved in to our first home together, we live in a maisonette in a small town near Winchester. Prior to this apartment, I had lived in a lovely flat in London, although I was never interested in the interiors as I was a student and it never felt like a permanent home. Although we will likely move from the apartment we are in in the next few years, I have loved learning about interiors and styling our space. I have a home office now too which has been a real pleasure to get to decorate also!

5. Are you a fan of upcycling?

I like repurposing objects for different things. I use old candle holders to contain my stationery, and I use a tin flower pot for my utensils in the kitchen. A lot of our furniture is second hand, buying older pieces has been a great way of allowing us to adopt an aesthetic we like, to a budget we can work with.

6. What are your top tips on getting in the creative zone?

Give yourself space and time to be creative. I allocate specific time slots to just ‘being creative’, sometimes this results in a little quiet time flicking through magazines but on other occasions I can create something new, or come up with an idea by just having a few moments to think.

7. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everywhere! I absorb information everywhere I go, I look at people, objects, spaces, I read and look at things on social media – it can get very noisy – sometimes I have to tune out and just have a long bath!

8. Who do you follow on Instagram?

9. What is your favourite room in the home and why?

My office is my favourite room because it doesn’t have junk in it! Oli and I lived with his brother for one year, and his bedroom is now my office. When I moved in I only brought with me the things I really needed, and things which inspired me, it is a really ‘zen’ zone for me. Sometimes I come in here at the weekend and just chill out on the sofa.

10 Describe your dream home…

My dream home is filled with love and family. I love wood floors and tiles, so I would have underfloor heating everywhere. Light is so important to me, the more floor-to-ceiling windows the better. I would really love a little terrace to sit and have coffee on in the morning too. My family is part Italian so I have always dreamt of a home filled with light, colour accents, and people I adore.

11. What is your biggest interior or craft trend prediction for 2016?

I think that people will bring more plants indoors. Oli and I stayed in New York last November and rented an AirBnB, our apartment was filled with plants – I thought it was a bit odd at the time but it made the air in the apartment feel really fresh, and they look really cool too! Having then explored it on Pinterest, I’ve seen loads of cool ways to incorporate more plants inside.

For more insight into Monica and The Elgin Avenue visit her blog or follow her on Instagram.